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Homemade Natural Cough Syrup - for toddlers!

J is at that in between age, he is old enough to have the homeopathic medicine, but not old enough to have real meds. I'm not a fan of real meds anyway. I always try homeopathic or natural remedies first, and if I need to, I'll bust out the big guns. J is in daycare, which means - CONSTANT COLDS. So, I formulated my own little cough syrup that actually works for him. I pair this with the cold buster lotion I blogged about earlier this week.

Here is my recipe for J's cold syrup. Keep in mind, I'm obviously not a doctor, and if your child is allergic to any of these ingredients or is under 1, don't give it to him or her. This recipe contains honey, which is NOT recommended for babies under 1 year's old.

1 cap full of lemon - The bioflavonoids in lemon have been shown to reduce cold symptoms and the duration of colds.

Enough honey to make this concoction a syrup consistency - According to the Mayo Clinic, studies show that children given honey at bedtime have reduced nighttime coughing and improved sleep. It was shown to be as effective as the cough suppressant dextromethorphan. Remember, it is not recommended for children under 1 year's old. There is a risk for infant botulism.

Dash of Cinnamon - Cinnamon is a natural anti-bacterial and is high in manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium. Cinnamon has been used as a natural remedy for colds and coughs in traditional Chinese medicine for 3,000 years.

1 syringe of Echinacea - Studies have shown that Echinacea increases white blood cells. The studies showed that the benefits are not directly related to cold reduction, but an overall increase in the immune system. This ingredient is more of a bonus. I buy Echinacea that is specifically for infants and children.